Scary

By Jon Coupal

....Equating ignorance with bliss is also a decidedly wrong idea when it
comes to the California state budget. Yet a recent poll shows that
ignorance of California's precarious financial state is pervasive.

Here is an indisputable fact: California's finances are a mess. More
specifically, the state budget remains grossly out of balance.
Whether you ask fiscal conservatives or the Legislature's own
Analyst, the answer -- to one degree or another -- is the same. We
are spending far more money than we are taking in.

It is one thing to approach the edge of a cliff, peer over the edge,
and then step back. But to hew unabated to a path that travels along
the edge of that same cliff is foolhardy. And yet with our "please
everyone" mentality in the Capitol, that is precisely what is
happening. Not only have we racked up massive amounts of debt
saddling our children with the bill for this generation's
spendthrift ways, we are also left with a choice of overspending by
$1.5 billion (Governor's plan) or $2.7 billion (Democrats' plan) for
fiscal 2007-2008. Please, can we choose "None of the Above?"

But this column isn't about the budget so much as it is about the
abject lack of awareness by California voters of virtually all
matters relating to public tax and spending policies. Sure, these
issues may not be as entertaining as American Idol, but Paula Abdul
is unlikely to run the state into bankruptcy.

The poll referred to above is the Public Policy Institute of
California poll which showed a dramatic drop-off in the concern of
voters in the state budget. As recently as 2004, 73% of us thought
that the state budget was a big problem. (The other 27% were the
kind of folks who would pick up the grisly hitchhiker carrying the
double-edged ax). Amazingly, and despite all evidence to the
contrary, that 73% figure has dropped to 44%. Granted, marijuana use
in California is above the national norm, but this is ridiculous.

When it comes to the budget the majority viewpoint now seems to be
"don't know" or "don't care." Why are Californians so ignorant of an
issue that could impact their lives for years? Certainly, in
addition to the fact that public finance is not the sexiest of
topics, many citizens are preoccupied with work and the struggle to
keep food on the table and a roof over their heads for themselves
and their families. And those who don't work already have an
entitlement mentality so they are probably all for more deficit
spending. Who cares about the next generation?

Another culprit is our public education system. How many of our
children are actually taught that the primary function of government
is to preserve liberty? I would wager none in our public schools.

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was asked, when he was leaving the
Constitutional Convention in 1787, what kind of government had they
created. His reply was "a Republic, if you can keep it." Our form of
government relies on a well-educated citizenry which not only stays
informed on matters of governance, but which also realizes that we
have a profound responsibility to future generations.

Regrettably, Californians are well down the path of losing their
Republic.


Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
-- California's largest taxpayer organization -- which is dedicated
to the protection of Proposition 13 and promoting taxpayers' rights.

This column can be found on the HJTA website at:
http://www.HJTA.org/commentaryV5-23